adv. phr. [L. ad to + libitum pleasure, pa. pple. used subst. of libet it pleases.] At one’s pleasure; to the full extent of one’s wishes, as much as one desires. In Music opposed to obbligato.
1705. Hickeringill, Priest-cr., II. i. 14. Afterwards comes another King … and quite contrary disannuls, ad libitum, the Acts of Uniformity and Conformity.
1878. E. J. Hopkins, in Grove’s Dict. Mus., I. 20. An accompaniment … is said to be Ad libitum when … it is not essential to the complete rendering of the music.
